Better Jobs Ontario (BJO) Application Recommendation and Checklist (ARC) Form

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development has launched a new document called the Better Jobs Ontario (BJO) Application Recommendation and Checklist (ARC) form. The ARC standardizes the BJO application process and reduces the number of required documents for application packages.

The ARC form replaces the current BJO Application Checklist for Employment Service/Integrated Employment Service Providers (SPs) and the BJO Employment Action Plan (EAP). Similar to the previous documents, the new ARC form identifies client information and documents that are required to be submitted to the ministry by SPs for all BJO applications. The form also requests information about the client’s history and program eligibility, and requires that SPs attest that BJO is the most appropriate path to address the individual’s employment needs.

The ARC form prioritizes questions that are necessary to assess a BJO application and are not asked in other forms such as the Common Assessment and BJO Application for Financial Assistance form. It is anticipated that the ARC form will make the BJO assessment process faster because there should be less back and forth between ministry staff and SPs.

The BJO ARC form is posted on the BJO Application Process page on the Employment Ontario Partners Gateway and will also be posted to the SSM Portal.

• System Service Managers (SSMs) as well as Integrated Employment Services Providers
• BJO applicants

To allow for a transition period and continue to support BJO applications that may be in process, the ministry has established a 45-day grace period from June 17 to July 31, 2025. During this time, applications with the BJO Application Checklist for SPs form and the BJO EAP will still be accepted.

As of August 1, 2025, the Application Checklist for SPs and the BJO EAP will no longer be accepted and SPs with new applicants to BJO will be required to include the new ARC form for all application packages.

Following the implementation of the new ARC form, the ministry will consult with regional staff, Service System Managers and SPs to gather feedback on additional improvements that can be made to the form in the future.

SPs that have any questions about the new ARC form are asked to contact their local ministry representative.